Tire-case.



0. F. HOPEWELL..

TIRE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 21, 1912.

Patented sept. s, 1912.

permitting variation in the engagement of 4snugly against the incased tire'.

place by inturning the free edge of thestrip orflap 10 about the member 13, and stitching the inturned portion tothe nain part of the Hap as indicated :tt-14. y As stat-edI above, i`t is practically impossible to stitch together the various strips at their ends and at their edges with such aecuracy, and so to locate complemental fastenerV members that whenthe tire case is placed and fastened on the tire it will fit smoothly and without puclering.

AThis invention provides 'complemental fastener members secured respectively tothe overlying aps at suitable intervals and said complemental members longitudinally of said flaps so that while holding the' edges together in fixed relation transversely, there may be such a variation or` adjustment in the longitudinal position of engagement thereof, as to secure the desired results and enable the tire case to` t `snugly and smoothly and-present the desired pleasing appearance. As one means for securing thisnd the constructionillustrated in the figures of the drawings referred to, namely 1 2, 5,6, 7, 9 and 10, may be employed; In this case a plurality of fastener members disposed at suitable intervals longitudinally of the case are employed.,v e Each fastener member comprises two complemental parts or members. One member consists of a dat metal hook 15 riveted in place as indicated atlG to the underlying flap 9 with the hook projecting downwardly and outwardly. The other complemental member is provided wit-h themetallic strip 13, and to enable the engagement of the hook therewith the stitching 14 is omitted at intervals as 'clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, for a distance considerably greater than the length of the hook 15. lt will thus be seen that vthe hook 15 may besnapped into place and While securely holding the iaps together transversely, will permit of a longitudinal variation, adjustment or engagement of the complemental members.

A similar construction is illustrated in Fig. 3 except that in this case the bead por- 'tion is constituted as a single strip 17 `stitched to the concave edges of the flange strips 2 and 3, while the tread is covered by two overlapping strips 1S fand 19 respectively secured te the convex edges of theiflange strips 2 and 3. In this case the hook shaped complemcntal member 15 of vthe fastener device is riveted to the under- 'necessary to do so in so far as its function as `a complemental part of the fastener devvice is concerned. Neither is it necessary that 4this strip should be of any particular cross section or material, so long as it properly coperates with-the hook member 15, or when used asa stiffener member for the edge, so long as it properly secures that result.

Other means yof construction of the fastener members-may beemployed to secure the .advantages and results of this invention, and one y.other form is suggested and `illustrated in Figs. f1 and 8 of the drawings, wherein the tire case is shown, so.l far as the fabric material portion thereof is concerned, as constructed in the same manner as described in connection with the first form illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. 1n the form illustrated in Figs. at and,

8 each fastener member is shown as composed of a stud and socket. riveted or secured to the underlying strip, as. the bead strip 9, in the usual manner. The socket member 21 is riveted or secured to the overlying-bead strip 10 and is provided with an elongated slot 22 and an elongated engaging rod The socket member has the usual ball head 24 with a recess therebeneath, so that when the stud is snapped through the opening 22, this recess will catch on the rod 23 which springs` or yields aside for that purpose, and then snaps back into the recess. It will thus be seen that this form of fastener member secures the same results as those already set forth and as desired, namely, holding the tire case firmly together transversely. and

The stndQO is allowing the necessary longitudinal variation, adjustment or engagement of the edges.

lhe number of fastener members employed may be varied, and any sui 'able means may be employed for securing together the ends of the tire case.

rl`he cost of manufacture of the tire ease is materially reduced by the employment of this invention, especially in the first or preferred form, owing to the simplicity and inexpensive type of fastener member, the utilization of the edge stifener as a complementary fastener' member, and the saving of time heretofore taken in locating the complementary fastener members in an endeavor to secure a properly tting case.

Having fully described my invention,

what claim as new and desire't secure by Letters Patent is l. An annular tire oase presenting overlapping longitudinal Haps, complementari vtener members secured vat intervals to sind flaps, each pair of fastener members having an engagement in fixed posit-ion transversely of and in Variable position longitudinally of said. Haps, whereby the edges of the tire case are secured in Xed position transversely and allowed to adjust tliemselves,longitudinally into proper position.

2. :in annular tire ease composed of sraight and segmental strips secured toether and presenting overlapping longitudinal flaps, one flap presenting a hem or pocket longitudinally thereof, a resilient stiiener member located in said hem or pocket, a plurality of hooks secured to the opposite flap and adapted when the case is in position on the tire to engage said stiffener member, whereby the edges of the tire case are secured in fixed position trans.- versely and allowed to adjust`theniselves longitudinally into proper position.

Intest-irnony whereof, I have signed niy name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. HOPEWELL. lVitnesses ALICE G. N ixoN, FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF. 

